In a letter sent Oct. 23 to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Reps. Sam Liccardo, Jimmy Panetta and Ro Khanna requested a briefing within two weeks. They want to know who decided to restrict Starshield speeds, how the limits were applied and whether the changes violated contractual obligations. They also asked whether similar vulnerabilities exist in other government systems.

“Politically motivated service interruptions or erratic throttling” could damage the reputation the United States has built by supporting allies and customers around the world, the lawmakers wrote.

The request follows reports that SpaceX limited service from Starlink, its satellite internet network, in Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk ordered the slowdown and spoke with President Donald Trump and other senior administration officials before restrictions were imposed. The White House and SpaceX had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

Starshield is SpaceX’s government-focused satellite network, designed for Earth observation, secure communications and military payloads. The lawmakers’ letter says taxpayers should not have to guess whether critical national-security decisions rest with elected officials or with a private contractor whose business includes federal contracts.

The issue has also drawn concern from Republicans. Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said Thursday he was uneasy about Musk’s influence over national-security matters.

The lawmakers’ demand puts a spotlight on the accountability questions that arise when government and military operations rely on communications infrastructure supplied by a private company. Their requested briefing would clarify the decision-making behind the reported restrictions and whether existing contracts provide safeguards against service changes.